EXPERTS RAISE ALARM OVER HIGH CASES OF HYPERTENSION IN FCT
By: Reginald Uhegbu.
Health authorities in the Federal Capital Territory have expressed worries over the increasing cases of Hypertension among residents of the Territory.
A survey showed that one in every five residents of FCT showed signs of hypertension, a situation that has unsettled health authorities and stakeholders.
According to Dr Aderonke Akande, public health consultant and Director Disease control of the FCT Primary Health Care Board, the survey which was carried out during the just concluded world hypertension day campaign in the FCT showed that the situation in Kwali Area Council was more disturbing as nearly half of those screened (49%) had elevated blood pressure readings with higher proportion of women with hypertension.
Akande stated that the screening campaign which was conducted across the FCT uncovered a disturbing health crises with 812 residents found to have elevated blood pressure out of 4186 people screened during the commemoration of the 2026 world hypertension day.
She expressed concern that many of those identified with elevated blood pressure were women and young adults who appeared healthy and had no prior knowledge of their condition, thus reinforcing concerns that hypertension is increasingly affecting people in their most productive years. While women accounted for the majority of those screened, significant numbers of elevated blood pressure cases were recorded among men and women.
These findings have therefore raised fresh concerns among health professionals over the rising cases of hypertension often referred as the ‘Silent Killer’.
Health officials who spoke to Abuja Digest warned that uncontrolled hypertension remains one of the leading causes of Stroke, Heart failure, Kidney Disease, Premature and Maternal death. They emphasised that many victims of hypertension show no symptoms until life threatening conditions occur.
The screening exercise was organised by the FCT Primary Health Care Board in collaboration with Public Health Department as part of activities to mark the world hypertension day during which the leadership of the FCT Primary health care board called for a sustained action including routine blood pressure check, healthier life style, reduction of salt intake and stronger community awareness.
